Senor Buscador Secures ‘Saudi Cup’ Victory, Defending Home Turf

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz crowned Sharaf Al-Hariri, owner of the horse “Senor Buscador,” winner of the “Saudi Cup” at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Arena in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz crowned Sharaf Al-Hariri, owner of the horse “Senor Buscador,” winner of the “Saudi Cup” at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Arena in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Senor Buscador Secures ‘Saudi Cup’ Victory, Defending Home Turf

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz crowned Sharaf Al-Hariri, owner of the horse “Senor Buscador,” winner of the “Saudi Cup” at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Arena in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz crowned Sharaf Al-Hariri, owner of the horse “Senor Buscador,” winner of the “Saudi Cup” at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Arena in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, acting on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, has crowned America’s Senor Buscador as the winner of the 5th edition of the Saudi Cup 2024 horse race at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

Following an electrifying race, Senor Buscador emerged victorious, securing the top position in the 9th round of the Saudi Cup race.

This prestigious equestrian event, known globally, offered significant prize money totaling $37.6 million across 17 rounds.

The Saudi Cup, with a prize of $20 million, saw a record-breaking participation of 244 horses.

Upon arrival at the venue, the Crown Prince was received by Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Equestrian Authority and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

The Crown Prince watched the final round of the horse race competition that attracted the finest thoroughbreds and top jockeys from around the globe.

The participating horses moved from the grooming arena to the parade ground in front of the Crown Prince before the race commenced. All participating jockeys were also present on the parade ground.

The Crown Prince then congratulated the owner of the horse Senor Buscador, for winning the race and presented them the Saudi Cup.

He also congratulated the horse trainer and jockey and presented them with a horse replica and a cavalry horse helmet respectively.

Japan’s Ushba Tesoro claimed the second position in this high-stakes horseracing event.

Moreover, the horse “Tower of London” won the top spot in the Red Sea Cup, covering 3,000 meters on grass and earning a prize of $1.5 million for its owners.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also celebrated victory as his horse “Spirit Dancer” claimed first place in the Howden Neom Turf Cup.



Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi Makes History with Dakar Rally Triumph

 Saudi driver Yazeed al-Rajhi (R) and co-driver Edouard Boulanger (L) celebrate after winning the Dakar Rally 2025 in the car category at the end of the 12th and last stage in Shubaytah, on January 17, 2025. (AFP)
Saudi driver Yazeed al-Rajhi (R) and co-driver Edouard Boulanger (L) celebrate after winning the Dakar Rally 2025 in the car category at the end of the 12th and last stage in Shubaytah, on January 17, 2025. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi Makes History with Dakar Rally Triumph

 Saudi driver Yazeed al-Rajhi (R) and co-driver Edouard Boulanger (L) celebrate after winning the Dakar Rally 2025 in the car category at the end of the 12th and last stage in Shubaytah, on January 17, 2025. (AFP)
Saudi driver Yazeed al-Rajhi (R) and co-driver Edouard Boulanger (L) celebrate after winning the Dakar Rally 2025 in the car category at the end of the 12th and last stage in Shubaytah, on January 17, 2025. (AFP)

Yazeed al-Rajhi made history on Friday by becoming the first driver from host nation Saudi Arabia to win the Dakar Rally.

The Overdrive pilot held onto his overnight lead to beat South Africa's Henk Lategan in a Toyota by 3min 57sec with Mattias Ekstrom of Sweden third in his Ford, 20min 21sec adrift.

Rajhi, 43, had previously recorded a best finish of third in 2022.

Saudi Arabia have hosted the Dakar Rally since 2020, when it moved from South America.

There was also a first win in the world's most famous endurance rally for Australia's KTM rider Daniel Sanders in the motorbike category.

The car category lost a lot of its gloss with two high-profile retirements early in the race.

Four-time winner and defending champion Carlos Sainz exited on the second stage after an accident.

A stage later it was France's nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb who departed, his Dakar jinx continuing as he was disqualified by the race stewards after his Dacia car was damaged in a crash.

Five-time winner Nasser al-Attiyah never really landed a blow but the Qatari took final stage honors on Friday and finished fourth overall.

Sanders, 30, dominated from the moment he won the prologue and finished a comfortable 8min 50sec faster than Spanish runner-up Tosha Schareina on his Honda.

Sanders' sublime performance is underlined by being the first rider to record three successive stage wins since Spain's Joan Barreda did that in the 2017 edition between Bolivia and Argentina.

Sanders is the second Australian to prevail in the motorbike category, Toby Price emerging victorious in 2016 and 2019.

"It was a tough race," said Sanders, whose three successive stage wins.

"The last three days couldn't come quick enough. It was really, really exciting to see the finish line when we came over one dune.

"You see the whole bivouac, I just smiled and had chills go through my whole body. Super special, won't forget that moment."

Schareina, 29, said second place did not leave a bitter taste in the mouth, indeed he reveled in the achievement considering what the grizzled veterans of the event had told him.

"I'm super happy to be here on the finishing line," he said.

"It was a really hard race and many of the veterans have told me that.

"It was the toughest ever edition, so I'm super happy to be here on the finishing line, so happy for the team and for everybody taking this second place we have earned.

"I'm super happy for Daniel, he has done a great job and had a great two weeks.

"I think the ten minutes more or less he took on the first day allowed him to control the race from then, but I´m super happy for them."